The Green-Whites travelled south-west out of the bottom three courtesy of their 6-2 punishing of VfB Stuttgart on Monday. Yet, there was no sign of the cutting edge that had done so much damage so recently as they toiled in the Domstadt. The hosts were the quicker starters, even if they too struggled to create clear-cut chances.

It was not until just before the break that a real goal threat came - Zlatko Junuzovic's shot struck the outside of a post after the Austria international had seized upon Jannik Vestergaard's long ball forward.

With their top-flight status already secured for the 2016/17 campaign, Köln were understandably less enthusiastic about the task in hand, but Anthony Modeste might have given the Billy Goats fans a victory to celebrate on their final visit to the RHEINENERGIESTADION this term only for Felix Wiedwald to parry his effort.

Rarely seen throughout the 90 minutes, Claudio Pizarro almost stole the limelight in added time, but the Peru international headed narrowly wide to leave his team - following Eintracht Frankfurt's victory over Borussia Dortmund - in the relegation play-off place ahead of next week's winner-takes-all encounter with Niko Kovac's men.

Man of the match

He was not all that busy, but Wiedwald was on the spot when his team needed him, making four crucial saves.

Bremen coach Viktor Skripnik faces an anxious final day of the season.

Talking point

It is simple: Bremen must win at home to Frankfurt next weekend to secure another season of Bundesliga football. Should they lose, Skripnik's men will be relegated if VfB Stuttgart - currently two points back - win in Wolfsburg on the final day of the season.

Match stats

Bremen need a victory from their Matchday 34 game at home to Frankfurt to stay up.

Köln already have two points more than they amassed last season.

Currently ninth, a point from next week's short trip to Dortmund will likely be enough to secure a first top-half finish since 1991/92.